Fla. court OKs using non-judges on foreclosures

Published: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 02:31 PM.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court is signing off on a plan to use lawyers — not judges — to handle thousands of foreclosure cases in the state.

Justices on Thursday issued an order that will allow chief judges across the state to use "general magistrates" to process the nearly 400,000 pending home foreclosures.

But the move was quickly criticized by a lawyer representing homeowners. Matthew Weidner called it an "attack on consumers" who deserve to have their cases heard by judges who are responsible to voters.

The court's decision comes right after the Florida Legislature approved a bill designed to speed up the foreclosure process.

State Courts Administrator Lisa Goodner noted some judicial circuits already use magistrates. But the order allows cases to be automatically referred to magistrates unless someone objects.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court is signing off on a plan to use lawyers — not judges — to handle thousands of foreclosure cases in the state.

Justices on Thursday issued an order that will allow chief judges across the state to use "general magistrates" to process the nearly 400,000 pending home foreclosures.

But the move was quickly criticized by a lawyer representing homeowners. Matthew Weidner called it an "attack on consumers" who deserve to have their cases heard by judges who are responsible to voters.

The court's decision comes right after the Florida Legislature approved a bill designed to speed up the foreclosure process.

State Courts Administrator Lisa Goodner noted some judicial circuits already use magistrates. But the order allows cases to be automatically referred to magistrates unless someone objects.